Back to results
US 2021/0333371 A1Published application
Lidar system with fog detection and adaptive response
AssigneeOuster, Inc.
InventorAngus Pacala
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A LIDAR system can automatically determine, based on analysis of data collected from the sensor channels during operation, whether fog is present. If fog is present, the LIDAR system can operate in a fog mode, and if fog is not present, the LIDAR system can operate in a “clear-air” mode. The two modes can differ from each other with respect to the emitter signals and/or the signal processing applied to the sensor data.
Claims20
A method of operating a LIDAR system, the method comprising:
- determining, based on photosensor data from a plurality of sensor channels of the LIDAR system, whether atmospheric fog is present in a field of view of the LIDAR system;
- in response to determining that atmospheric fog is present, operating the LIDAR system in a fog mode;
- and
- in response to determining that atmospheric fog is not present, operating the LIDAR system in a clear-air mode,
- wherein the fog mode and the clear-air mode are different from each other with respect to at least one operational parameter.
2 more elements
A LIDAR system comprising:
- an array of emitter channels;
- an array of sensor channels;
- a signal processing circuit coupled to the array of sensor channels and configured to determine, based on photosensor data from the array of sensor channels, whether atmospheric fog is present in a field of view;
- and
- a control circuit coupled to the signal processing circuit, the array of emitter channels and the array of sensor channels, the control circuit being configured to:
- operate the array of emitter channels and the array of sensor channels in a fog mode in response to determining that atmospheric fog is present;
- and
- operate the array of emitter channels and the array of sensor channels in a clear-air mode in response to determining that atmospheric fog is not present,
- wherein the fog mode and the clear-air mode are different from each other with respect to at least one operational parameter.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.